Q about a WWII Ranger "clacker"

[sucker4gurls]

Ok, well I know that in WWII, the US Army Rangers had something that when pressed together, made a clicking or clacking sound. They used this device to signal to other rangers in the area. It was usually held between the thumb and forefinger, and clacked when pressure was applied.

My question is this: Do any of you know what they are called, and if so, can you find me some pictures of them?

All information related to this will be very helpful.
S4G

[DE_Six]

It was called a "cricket", a dime-store clacker, and was issued to paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st, because of the risk of scattering during night drops, so they had to regroup in the dark and ID each other. 1 click was to be answered by two clicks.

http://www.101airborneww2.com/M2cric.jpg

http://www.101airborneww2.com/4crickets.jpg

http://www.101airborneww2.com/ChesterCricket.jpg


In this January, 2002 photo, Chester Elliott, a survivor of Item Co., 502 PIR, demonstrates how he held his cricket for signalling purposes in Normandy. Note that his index finger merely stabilizes the brass portion of the device, while his thumb presses the spring steel snapping plate. This is the most efficient way to elicit the sharp, desired 'click-clack' sound from the cricket.

[Telnyashka]

Any more history of troop identification?

Im just wondering because before the advent of night vision, and I mean even during it, the need for identification in the dark is needed.

Any soldiers issued some sort of tool now adays or even a home made one?

[DE_Six]

NVGs and IR tags. IR strobes, too.

In the late 80's, some Rangers (BCT) attached lightsticks to their weapon slings.

There's "cat eyes" on the back of patrol caps, boonie hats and helmet foliage bands of several NATO armies.

During WW2, German soldiers tied colored cloth strips around their arms to distinguish themsleves from soviet troops when wearing white camo overalls.

US soldiers were the first to wear the national flag on their shoulder when theyr were issued flag armbands for Operation Torch in 1942, although several scandinavian Waffen-SS units wore their flag on the sleeve around the same time.

German U-Boot captains wore the white-topped tropical cap cover to help distinguish them in the darkness when manning the turm during WW2.

That's all I can think of for now.

[usm2b]

I bought one of those when I went to Normandy a couple years ago, neat little item

[Kingswat]

they are a neat little thing to have.

[Para]

On D Day it was a toy frog that used to give a double click when pressed, you can see these things in the film The Longest Day.

[Sabre]

Any more history of troop identification?

Im just wondering because before the advent of night vision, and I mean even during it, the need for identification in the dark is needed.

Any soldiers issued some sort of tool now adays or even a home made one?

Most units still use a password/pass number system and/or a recognisable signal. Pass numbers are easier to use and are mostly used in conjunction with a 'crucifix' posture. This is mainly used when a patrol splits up, or is to meet with/return to another patrol/unit. The pass number is agreed upon and will be in the orders for the mission. A pass number is a set sum and is composed of the challenge number and the response number, the sum of both being the pass number. So, if the pass number is the sum of 9, a challenge might be "Four" and the correct response would be "Five". Pass numbers are never even because there is the possibility of the challenge number being the same as the response number. So if it was 8 and the challenge was "four", the response would be "four" too, giving the enemy a chance to circumvent the system.

Correct identification is aided by the incoming patrol adopting the crucifix or arms spread stance. No enemies would patrol in this way, and as only the patrol know where the harbour is, there is no chance of an enemy patrol trying to adopt this stance to decieve the hosting unit. The route out and in are always agreed in advance, and it is good skills to cross the front of the harbour on the way in so they have a good chance to ID you before you turn in towards them. PRR type systems are a good aid to this procedure, especially at patrol level where you have constant comms. But radios can always fail and NVAs are only as good as the eye looking through them, so it is important to have simple drills like these.

This system is highly effective, but it works best in small patrol/platoon level use. Outside of this it is difficult to ensure everyone has the same info on times/routes in/out and the correct passnumber/signs and not worth the risk. That is why it is important to stick to boundaries and know where your harbours/patrols are!

[moonmonkey]

I have heard of stories of the cocking of the mauser - the bolt moving back then forward of making the same noise as those 'crickets' and patrols sometimes thinking they were other allied troops.
Anyone hear the same or have any clarification

[Marmot1]

I have heard of stories of the cocking of the mauser - the bolt moving back then forward of making the same noise as those 'crickets' and patrols sometimes thinking they were other allied troops.
Anyone hear the same or have any clarification

It is scene from "The Longest Day" movie...

[XS203598]

NVGs and IR tags. IR strobes, too.

In the late 80's, some Rangers (BCT) attached lightsticks to their weapon slings.

There's "cat eyes" on the back of patrol caps, boonie hats and helmet foliage bands of several NATO armies.

During WW2, German soldiers tied colored cloth strips around their arms to distinguish themsleves from soviet troops when wearing white camo overalls.

US soldiers were the first to wear the national flag on their shoulder when theyr were issued flag armbands for Operation Torch in 1942, although several scandinavian Waffen-SS units wore their flag on the sleeve around the same time.

German U-Boot captains wore the white-topped tropical cap cover to help distinguish them in the darkness when manning the turm during WW2.

That's all I can think of for now.

In IV Corps, our CIDG troops (Hoa Haos) wore multi-colored scarfs that could be reversed...since some of the VC were deserters from other camps.

[pathfinder82]

My best friends father a paratrooper in Vietnam and an avid collector had a shoe box full of them he had bought off a group of dairy farmers in Normandy. I think he got them sometime in the late 70's or early 80's.